Rep. Joe Sestak (D., Pa.) . . . said Democratic leaders should set aside their demands for immediate withdrawal "and begin to help author a comprehensive regional security plan that accepts the necessity for a deliberate redeployment."

. . . Sestak has been among those Democrats who think that setting a "date certain" for withdrawal is the best way to force Iraqis to assume more responsibility.

But he now believes the length of time needed to redeploy, and the potential for the entire Army to "unravel" unless troops are redeployed, require a compromise.

Good bargaining there Admiral. So are we going to support primarying Sestak? The Netroots/activist strategy on Iraq in 2007 has been an abject failure.

Randi Rhodes 'clarified' yesterday, stating that she is for 'Fully Funded Withdrawal'. This came after a session of whining to Bruce Fein, during which she expressed her fear that Bush would leave de-funded troops in Iraq (a justified fear) and that this would be bad for electoral politics (that aspect is not on my radar screen).

In essence, Randi Rhodes is saying that George W. Bush can terrorize her into funding his occupation if he wants. However she can pass responsibility for this personal failure to her listeners and the American people generally, for not having corraled and deliverered the Godot 'Republicans', and generally for being rotten, lazy citizens who would allow Randi Rhodes to be terrorized by George W. Bush.

If we had a SINGLE senator, they could filibuster everything the administration asks for - but we dont. Sure, they might get voted down (cloture), but then we would have a record of those who sided with the administration and against its people.

We dont need a spine (although donations to the research to correct Democratic Spinal Defect "DSD" would be greatly appreciated). We need one senator who cares more about the people than he does his own party.

Bush's strategy is to give the Iraq war to the next president. The Democratic strategy is to be that president. The people's strategy is to quit bleeding and dying.

We in the netroots have enthusiastically aligned ourselves with an assortment of former CIA and military officers along with various on the outs but looking to stay in the game State Department players. Gee, who would have thought that would lead to us helping along the "military power is there to be used, foreign entanglement crowd?"